Assessment of coronary artery bypass graft disease using cardiovascular magnetic resonance determination of flow reserve

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the value of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)-determined graft flow and flow reserve in differentiating significant from non-significant vein graft disease. BACKGROUND: In patients after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), non-invasive testing may be helpful in the detection of recurrent graft disease. METHODS: Randomly selected patients (n = 21) scheduled for X-ray angiography because of recurrent chest complaints after CABG were included for evaluation of vein grafts (n = 40) by CMR. Three-dimensional contrast-enhanced CMR angiography was performed and followed by flow measurements at rest and during hyperemia in patent grafts only. Flow reserve was calculated when resting flow exceeded 20 ml/min. Analysis was based on four categories defined by X-ray angiography: occluded grafts (n = 3), grafts with stenosis >50% (n = 19), grafts with stenosis 50% and normal run-off (n = 10). RESULTS: The CMR angiography demonstrated occlusion of three grafts. In nine of the 37 patent grafts, basal blood flow was 20 ml/min (n = 28), flow reserve significantly differed between grafts without stenosis and grafts with significant stenosis or with diseased run-off (2.5 ± 0.7 vs. 1.8 ± 0.9, p = 0.04). An algorithm combining basal volume flow <20 ml/min and graft flow reserve <2 had a sensitivity and specificity of 78% and 80% respectively for detecting grafts with significant stenosis or diseased run-off. CONCLUSIONS: This feasibility study showed that quantification of flow and flow reserve by CMR may serve as a non-invasive adjunct to differentiate between vein grafts without stenosis and grafts with significant stenosis or diseased ran-off

Determination of stroke volume by means of electrical impedance tomography

ECG-gated electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a non-invasive imaging technique, developed to monitor blood volume changes. This study is the first in comparing this non-invasive technique in measuring stroke volume with established techniques. The objective of this study was to validate EIT variables derived from the EIT images with paired obtained stroke volume measurements by thermodilution and MRI. After right cardiac catheterization, EIT measurements were performed in 25 patients. Regression analysis was used to analyse the relation between the EIT results and stroke volume determined by thermodilution. From the regression line an equation was derived to estimate stroke volume (in ml) by EIT. A strong correlation was found between EIT and stroke volume measured by the thermodilution method (r = 0.86). In a group of 11 healthy subjects this equation was validated to MRI. The mean and standard deviation of the difference between EIT and MRI was 0.7 ml and 5.4 ml respectively. These data indicate that EIT is a valid and reproducible method for the assessment of stroke volume

Myofilament Degradation and Dysfunction of Human Cardiomyocytes in Fabry Disease

Early detection of myocardial dysfunction in Fabry disease (FD) cardiomyopathy suggests the contribution of myofilament structural alterations. Six males with untreated FD cardiomyopathy submitted to cardiac studies, including tissue Doppler imaging and left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy. Active and resting tensions before and after treatment with protein kinase A (PKA) were determined in isolated Triton-permeabilized cardiomyocytes. Cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area, glycosphingolipid vacuole area, myofibrillolysis, and extent of fibrosis were also determined. Biopsies of mitral stenosis in patients with normal left ventricles served as controls. Active tension was four times lower in FD cardiomyocytes and correlated with extent of myofibrillolysis. Resting tension was six times higher in FD cardiomyocytes than in controls. PKA treatment decreased resting tension but did not affect active force. Protein analysis revealed troponin I and desmin degradation products. FD cardiomyocytes were significantly larger and filled with glycosphingolipids. Fibrosis was mildly increased compared with controls. Tissue Doppler imaging lengthening and shortening velocities were reduced in FD cardiomyocytes compared with controls, correlating with resting and active tensions, respectively, but not with cardiomyocyte area, percentage of glycosphingolipids, or extent of fibrosis. In conclusion, myofilament degradation and dysfunction contribute to FD cardiomyopathy. Partial reversal of high resting tension after pharmacological PKA treatment of cardiomyocytes suggests potential benefits from enzyme replacement therapy and/or energy-releasing agents